Moving to new computer- using windows backup?

[Mister Fox]

I recently built my own awesome desktop computer (woohoo!) and I need to get all my files (both user files and installed programs) over to it from my old computer. I want to do this as easily as possible, but I'm not sure if my idea will work.

Could I make a backup file using windows backup on my old computer, move it to the new computer, and then restore from that backup? The OS is the exact same on both computers (Win7 Home Premium 64 bit).

Would this work?

 

[The Peanut]

If you are moving to a new pc, then I would advise you to do a clean install of your OS as it will stop alot of problems in the future

 

[whs]

Backup your user files to an external drive from where you can restore them. I recommend to use a simple copy/paste or this. Then you know what you have done.

The OS and the programs you will have to reinstall.

 

[Mister Fox]

OK, I think I understand how to do this.
One more thing- the old pc and the new pc will both be running Windows 7 Homre Premium 64 bit. Is it not possible that I could literally copy/paste the entire contents of my C: drive to avoid having to re-install everything?

 

[whs]

Not possible for a variety of reasons. And Copy/Paste would not work at all even if it were the exact same PCs.